Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Parties to an adoption, including adult adopted people, may exchange non-identifying information via the mailbox service which is operated by Adoption Services Queensland.

In some circumstances, people who have received identifying information about each other may also exchange other information via the mailbox service.

People who lodge a contact statement stating they do not want to be contacted by another party to the adoption sometimes state that although they want no direct contact, they would be agreeable to exchanging information with the other party via the mailbox service.

Table of contents:

Type of information that may be exchanged

Parties who are entitled to, can exchange non- identifying information via the mailbox service. Parties who are entitled to exchange identifying information may also choose to communicate via the mailbox.

Parties to an adoption, who have obtained identifying information about each other, and who choose to correspond with each other via mailbox, may exchange identifying information.

Who can participate in mailbox?

An adopted child, with his or her adoptive parents' permission, the child's adoptive parents and the child's birth parents may communicate via the mailbox service.

An adult relative of the child's birth parent may also take part if the birth parent gives consent. A birth parent who consents to a relative exchanging correspondence via mailbox can specify that only non-identifying information is to be exchanged.

Parties to an adoption, where the adopted person is an adult, may also exchange correspondence via the mailbox service if this is their preference. Some people may choose to initially correspond via mailbox before making direct contact with each other.

Agreeing to participate in mailbox

A person who wishes to exchange correspondence with another party to an adoption may do so via mailbox if he or she is eligible to take part and provides Adoption Services Queensland with notice of his or her agreement to participate in mailbox by completing a Notice of participation in mailbox form.

Adoption Services Queensland can facilitate the exchange of correspondence only after both parties have agreed to participate in mailbox.

Exchanging letters and other items

A person participating in mailbox may give Adoption Services Queensland a letter, or other item, to pass on to another party to the adoption who has also agreed to participate in mailbox.

Adoption Services Queensland will pass on an item, other than money, a gift card, cheque or money order, if it is reasonably practical for Adoption Services Queensland to do so.